Free Shop Opening & Closing Checklist Template

Most shops have an opening and closing routine. Very few shops have one written down — which means it lives differently in every employee's head, and the version that actually gets followed depends on who happens to open or close that day.

Here's a starting template covering what most independent shops need. Add or cut based on how your shop actually runs, then write it down somewhere your team can actually see it.

Opening Checklist

• Disarm alarm, unlock doors
• Turn on lights, HVAC, and air compressor — give the compressor time to build pressure before the first lift job
• Check voicemail and any after-hours messages
• Review the day's appointment schedule and confirm parts have arrived for scheduled jobs
• Assign bays and technicians for the morning
• Walk the lot — confirm every vehicle from the day before is accounted for
• Check tool cribs and shop supplies for anything that needs restocking before the first car goes up
• Quick team huddle — priorities for the day, anything unusual on the schedule
• Log into POS / shop management software, confirm it's running correctly
• Restock consumables — shop rags, gloves, fender covers, floor mats

Closing Checklist

• Confirm every repair order is either closed or clearly staged with notes for tomorrow
• Log and secure customer vehicle keys
• Reconcile the cash drawer against the day's transactions
• Shut down equipment — lifts down, compressor off, lights off in unused areas
• Lock tool boxes and secure high-value tools
• Clean and organize bays for the next day
• Dispose of trash and any hazardous waste per your shop's procedures
• Do a final walk-through — nothing left running, nothing left unlocked
• Review tomorrow's schedule so the opener isn't starting cold
• Set the alarm, lock doors

Why This Is Worth Writing Down

The tasks on this list aren't complicated. That's exactly why they're easy to skip — nothing on here feels urgent until the day someone forgets to shut off the compressor overnight, or a customer's keys go missing, or the shop opens late because nobody checked the schedule first.

A written checklist doesn't just prevent mistakes. It means opening and closing doesn't depend on whichever employee has been there longest — anyone on your team can do it correctly, the same way, every time.

Making It Yours

This template is generic on purpose. Your shop probably has a few things that belong on here that aren't listed — a specific alarm code process, a particular piece of equipment that needs a shutdown sequence, a note about who handles the deposit. The real version of this checklist is the one with your shop's specific details built in, not a generic list taped to the wall that nobody follows because it doesn't quite match how your shop actually works.